by Julia Mills
Her Mad Dragon
Dragon Guard Series #15
by
Julia Mills
There Are No Coincidences.
The Universe Does Not Make Mistakes.
Fate Will Not Be Denied.
Copyright © 2016 Julia Mills
All Rights Reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictional manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
NOTICE: This is an adult erotic paranormal romance with love scenes and mature situations. It is only intended for adult readers over the age of 18.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Edited by Lisa Miller, Angel Editing Services
Proofread by Tammy Payne with Book Nook Nuts
Cover Designed by Linda Boulanger with Tell Tale Book Covers
Cover Model Clint Lewing
Photographer Shauna Kruse with Kruse Images and Photography
Formatted by Charlene Bauer with Wickedly Bold Creations
DEDICATION
Dare to Dream! Find the Strength to Act! Never Look Back!
Thank you, God.
To my girls, Liz and Em, I Love You. Every day, every way, always.
Index of the Original Language of the Dragon Kin
Her Mad Dragon
Mo chroi’………. My heart
Mo ghra’………. My love
Ta’ mo chroi istigh ionat………. My heart is within you
Mo stór………. My treasure
Mo maité………. My mate
Mo Dragon………. My dragon
Mo bheannacht………. My blessing
Céadsearc………. Sweetheart
Shealbhú do Demon theanga………. Hold your tongue, Demon
Saoire dom spiorad. Crá dom nach bhfuil níos mó……Leave me, Spirit. Torment me no more
A fháil as bhealach amach………. Find a way out
Baile………. Home
Ullmhú le haghaidh cath, Tá s’e ar fad fíor………. Prepare for battle. It is all real
Deartháir………. Brother
Is brae liom tú………. I love you
Go dtí an ghria a thuilleadh shines………. Until the sun no longer shines
Mo Sorceress beag………. My little sorceress
Mo ghrá thú………. Love you
Is brae liom tú an méid sin………. I love you so much
Mo charra………. My friend
Mo Dragon mheabhair………. My mad dragon
Is tú chroí, mo ghrá, mo gach rud………. You are my heart, my love, my everything
Grá mo shaol………. Love of my life
Tá tú mo domhan anois agus go deo………. You are my world, now and forever
Also by Julia Mills
*****
The Dragon Guard Series
Her Dragon to Slay, Dragon Guard #1
Her Dragon’s Fire, Dragon Guard #2
Haunted by Her Dragon, Dragon Guard #3
For the Love of Her Dragon, Dragon Guard #4
Saved by Her Dragon, Dragon Guard #5
Only for Her Dragon, Dragon Guard #6
Fighting for Her Dragon, Dragon Guard #7
Her Dragon’s Heart, Dragon Guard #8
Her Dragon’s Soul, Dragon Guard #9
The Fate of Her Dragon, Dragon Guard #10
Her Dragon’s No Angel, Dragon Guard #11
Her Dragon, His Demon, Dragon Guard #12
Resurrecting Her Dragon, Dragon Guard #13
The Scars of Her Dragon, Dragon Guard #14
Her Love, Her Dragon: The Saga Begins, A Dragon Guard Prequel
*****
The ‘Not-Quite’ Love Story Series
Vidalia: A ‘Not-Quite Vampire Love Story
Phoebe” A ‘Not-Quite’ Phoenix Love Story
Zoey: A ‘Not-Quite’ Zombie Love Story
Jax: A ‘Not-Quite’ Puma Love Story
*****
Kings of the Blood
VIKTOR: Heart of Her King ~ Kings of the Blood ~ Book 1
The Dragon Guard
We soar the skies
Free to a certain extent,
As long as we stay hidden
From prying human eyes.
Our scales differ in color
Our defensive weapons,
Tails, horns, talons and all,
Are never the same.
We are one with nature
We blend in with nature
The wind helps us soar high in the heavens
While the earth grant us healing strength in our hour of need.
We are one with the world
We are the guardians of our kin
When evil conspire to maim and hurt
We are protectors of this human race.
As majestic animals of fairytales
We share our beings with great men
They walk in honor and the grace of Fate,
Fate that we cannot deny.
Copyright © 2016 Melanie Williams
- This Poem is based on the Series, The Dragon Guard by Author Julia Mills.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Epilogue
Her Dragon to Slay
Roman
Viktor
Phoebe
About Julia
Chapter One
Two days after Kellan and Olive’s mating ceremony
“Okay Mom, we’re here. What’s with all the secrecy? We need to get a move on. Royce is waiting. We have plans to go to a movie.”
Calysta couldn’t believe how nervous she was at the prospect of telling her daughter and her sister the one thing she’d hidden from them for over a hundred and thirty years. As the Grande Priestess of the Earthen Witches, she’d stood against rogue wizards, demented demons, and hunters out to destroy all magic. Had even been held hostage and tortured by the notorious Grand Draoi, Cleland; all without the slightest bit of trepidation. All those horrible events had actually been a cake walk compared to what she had to do now.
Looking first at her daughter Kyra, a bright, wonderful witch who’d exceeded all Calysta’s expectations, then to her younger sister, Della, who’d always been by her side and was an amazing person, the Priestess felt the butterflies that had been dancing in her stomach for two weeks, double and then triple. The time had come. It was now or never. If she didn’t tell them what was happening in the next ten seconds, she was going to chicken out and have to work up her nerve all over again.
Or slink off like a coward. Which I am not.
No longer able to stay seated, Calysta jumped to her feet and stepped towards her daughter and sister, who were seated side-by-side on the couch. It took three tries but she finally found her voice and, in a speed that rivaled even the best auctioneer, she rambled, “Please don’t be mad but I thought it was a mistake or some kind of cosmic joke.” She looked at Kyra. “I mean, I met your father, fell in love, and before I knew it, we were blessed with you. I
was thrilled. It was confirmation that, even though the Council doubted it, Patrick was my mate. Then your father died and well, I thought, okay, that’s it for me, but then,” she paused and looked at her sister. Both women were looking at her like she’d lost her mind. It was all too much. Looking at her hands, she started to pace.
Talking and walking faster and faster with each step she took, Calysta’s heart threatened to beat out of her chest as she went on, “Then the mark appeared on your hip,” she glanced at Kyra again before looking away and continuing to pace. “And I thought that was the answer. You were to mate a Guardsman. I was to lead the witches with Della by my side and we would all live happily ever after, but as Fate would have it, I got kidnapped,” she gulped.
After a deep breath that did nothing to calm her nerves and only made her a little light-headed, Calysta continued, “I had several visions while I was hovering in and out of consciousness,” she stopped and pushed back the memories, “during my time with Cleland. They all centered around a man. He looked wild and unkempt, like a man on the fringe of civilization. I thought he was the physical manifestation of Thanatos and my visions were a warning, but then when you rescued me and brought me here I found out the Demon Lord has a whole other plan.” Looking at her family, she held up her hand and added, “I’ll explain later.”
Or maybe never…
Another deep breath followed by a big exhale and she was off and running once more. “The visions continued and then I saw him. That was all it took. I knew. Destiny, Fate, the Goddess, and most definitely the Universe, all had another plan for me. I’ve fought it as long as I can. I’ve denied the truth and continued to keep my secret, but the time has come. I have to be honest with both of you.”
Stopping in front of Kyra and Della, she looked from one to the other, making sure she had their full attention. It unnerved her that both ladies wore a sly grin and had a knowing twinkle in their eyes, but she didn’t let it stop her. The need to unburden herself was more important than whatever they found funny. Keeping her secret was eating her alive.
Opening her mouth to speak, the Priestess snapped her jaw shut when both her daughter and sister started howling with laughter. Anxiety turned to frustration and quickly headed to anger. She was trying to tell them the most important news she’d ever shared with anyone in a hundred and eighty-five years, aside from the day Kyra was born, and the two people she loved more than life itself were laughing at her.
Glaring at her family, Calysta yelled, “What the hell is wrong with you two? I’m trying to tell you that I have the mark.” She paused and when they only laughed louder with tears running down their faces, she slammed her fists to her hips, tapped her foot, and growled. “What? You think it’s funny that I’m to mate a Guardsman?”
She was so mad it completely escaped her attention that neither one was surprised by her confession and that the more she told them, the more hilarious they found it. Narrowing her eyes, she took a step forward.
Kyra took a deep breath to stop laughing quite so hard but still chuckled. “No, Mom, I think it’s funny that Maddox is your mate and…” The giggles overtook her before she could finish.
Thankfully, Della picked up where Kyra left off. “And it is absolutely hilarious that you thought we didn’t know you had the mark. Who do you think cleaned you up when they brought you back from that hellhole?”
Having partially recovered once again, Kyra snickered. “And even if we hadn’t known about the mark, we would have to be deaf, dumb, and blind to have missed that you and Maddox were mates. Hell, Mom, the whole clan knows.”
Her daughter fell back on the couch still chuckling while Della stood and walked to her. Her younger sister smiled. “I’m sorry we ruined your surprise.”
Shaking her head, Calysta quickly responded, “Oh no, I’m not upset that you knew. Well…I wish you’d have told me.” She winked. “Would’ve saved me a helluva lot of worry. I’ve been making myself sick because I thought you two would hate me for keeping my mark a secret for all these years.”
“I always knew there was something not quite…complete, with your bond to Patrick. He was a great man and an even better father, but you never seemed truly happy…not until,” Della looked at Kyra then back to Calysta, “our little Kyra came.”
“Yeah, about that.” Kyra sat up on the edge of the couch. “How did you get pregnant if dad wasn’t your true mate.”
Calysta shrugged, but it was Della who winked and teased, “You really should’ve been better at history, Callie.”
“Yeah, but I always had you for that and it was so incredibly boring.”
The sisters chuckled. Calysta walked to the chair next to the sofa and sat down. Della began to explain as she made her way back to her place on the couch. “You, my dear niece, have always doubted how incredibly special you really are. I have seen it in your eyes and heard it in your voice. No matter how many times we told you that you were destined for great things when you were growing up, you always rolled your eyes and sighed, but here is your proof. Your presence on this earth was Destiny. It was one of those special events decreed by the Goddess and made possible by the Universe. Your mother, the most powerful Priestess in at least two millennia, was mated to a human who was most definitely not her ‘one true mate’ and so far beneath her class that she had to take on the entire Council in order to wed him. They were in love, never doubt that. They had a fiery passion that burned hot and bright. It was the kind of love that people write romance novels about, but it was short lived and mostly tenuous. The blessing in it was that you were conceived.”
“The history of our people tells of a child who will be born under unconventional circumstances, who will unite the witches with their greatest ally and save both races. You, sweet Kyra, are that child.”
Calysta watched Kyra absorb Della’s words and was thankful once again for her sister’s eloquence, for the Priestess had no doubt she would’ve cried her way through the whole darn story. Kyra’s lavender eyes were open as wide as they would go and she barely blinked as she took in everything Della had just said. Calysta watched, waiting to see how her daughter would react. It took a little less than a minute and as usual, was nothing the Priestess had ever expected.
Falling back on the couch once again, Kyra shook her head, chuckled and said, “Well, that’s all well and good. Thanks for the history lesson…again. But does this whole ‘momma mates a dragon’ thing mean I finally get a little sister?”
“Oh, my Goddess, can you imagine Maddox with a child? Saints preserve us.” Della mock fanned herself while overflowing with barely contained laughter.
Calysta spit the sip of iced tea she’d just taken all over herself, which once again set off Della and Kyra’s hilarity. They erupted in laughter, hugging one another to stay upright. Grabbing her napkin off the coffee table, the Priestess wiped her chin while trying to gain control of the conversation but it was no use, her family was having far too much fun with her plight to listen to her rebuttal.
It took a few minutes and as much patience as she could muster, but Calysta finally got the girls to calm down and asked, “Really? You’re just going to sit there and laugh at me? No advice?”
“Well, I would suggest running for the hills but from what Roy says, Maddox has already realized you’re his mate so I’m thinkin’ you’re stuck.” Kyra gave her eyebrows a quick up and down then winked before humming that stupid ‘Kissing in a Tree’ song.
“He knows?” Calysta gasped.
She was shocked. He always acted like he hated her. Well, maybe he did. Maybe he was going to run for the hills. Maybe he didn’t want a mate at all. He’d been alone for a very long time. Would it be so bad? Probably not. She had also been alone for years. It was just that…
“Mom? Did you hear me?” Kyra asked, obviously irritated by Calysta’s daydreaming.
“No, dear. I’m sorry. I was…”
“You were thinking that Maddox has been a butthead to you for weeks and that it’
s because he doesn’t want you and that you would be fine with that. Well, I call bullshit.” Kyra had jumped to her feet, had her hands on her hips, and was tapping her foot.
Playing defense, Calysta deflected Kyra’s comment with a quick rebuke, “Stay out of my head, little girl. I am still your mother and I can still…”
The words died in her mouth as Kyra stared at her with one eyebrow raised and her lips pursed, waiting for Calysta’s patented ‘send you to your room’ threat. Laughing out loud, Calysta admitted, “You already knew what I was going to say, didn’t you?”
“Yep,” Kyra nodded, grinning from ear-to-ear. “It was one of two things. Either ‘get to your room and do not come out until you’ve learned to behave’, which by the way still hasn’t happened, or ‘if you do that again I will dowse your magic and let you see what living like a human is like’. Does that about cover it?”
Shaking her head, the Priestess smiled. “You got it in one. But…”
“But nothing, Mom. You gotta buck up buttercup. The Universe has decided to saddle you with the most cantankerous, ill-mannered, pain-in-the-ass, grumpy old dragon that ever walked the face of the earth and…” Kyra knelt at Calysta’s knees, just like she’d done as a little girl, and placed her hands over her mother’s. “…you are already a little in love with the old coot.”
Blowing out the breath she’d been holding, Calysta leaned forward and kissed Kyra on the forehead. There’d been a time when she thought she’d never be close to her daughter again but now things were different; fences had been mended and they were growing closer every day. It had been a long journey to where they were and there were still miles to go, but the Priestess had faith they would get there.
The Goddess works in mysterious ways.